There’s been a wave of stories in the media concerning gay marriage or general homosexual disdainment. Every so often, there is a mainstream story concerning someone offended by gays/lesbians. I just have trouble understanding why we need to spend so much energy towards preventing behavior that is different from ours, especially if that behavior doesn’t impede on any other person’s freedoms. It’s bigotry at its finest. Someone’s sex life, who they fall in love with, or whom they decide to marry has no affect on anyone else. So let us banish our bigotry and open our hearts and minds to accept all kinds of people and appreciate that they cherish someone else in life, even if it is someone of the same sex. In any case, why does it concern you anyway? Let’s bury this social issue and focus our energy on other important things.

Gay marriage is a topic that is worth one paragraph of debate before it’s done. I was going to end the blog there and call it a day. However, for those bigots that will hold the bible up in the air and strike down homesexuality just because the bible says it is wrong, this is for you – Where’s your tolerance? Where’s your compassion? Why judge others? Doesn’t the bible teach those things? While we’re at it, besides homosexuality, here’s a list of some other things the bible says we ought not do:

1. Leviticus 11:7-8 – No eating pork
2. Leviticus 19:28 – No tattoos
3. Leviticus 19:16 – No gossiping
4. Mark 10:11-12 – No re-marriage
5. Exodus 31:14-15 – No working on the Sabbath (or be put to death)
6. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 – Women can’t speak in church
7. Leviticus 10-11 – Do not eat crustaceans
8. Deuteronomy 22:20-21 – Fornication
9. Leviticus 19:28 – Do not trim hair/beard
10. Leviticus 19:19 – Do not wear clothes from 2 different materials.

So why do Catholics, Christians, Baptist, etc. focus on a Bible verse that expresses dissaproval of homosexuality and not others? In fact, how much of the Bible do most people truly abide by? How deep are their devotions?

The bottom line is that the teachings of the Bible are based on love. Matthew 22:39 says to love your neighbor. Let’s focus on that verse, which trumps the ones about homosexuality.

Marriage is a social construct for which some of our laws, social policies, and various benefits are based on. We have to allow gay couples the ability to marry, not only because we understand love has no boundaries, but because they are allowed the social benefits and recognition that married couples inherit.

As older generations are replaced and we evolve, tolerance will grow.  At least here’s a start:

Peace.